Remembering 9/11

There are two dates no one in the world should ever forget – September 11, 2001 and May 2, 2011. On the first date, Americans suffered the most brutal attack on our country in history. On the second date, thanks to our military, we brought its perpetrator to justice. That’s how our military rolls.

Thirteen years ago this week, al Qaeda terrorists hijacked four American passenger jets, smashing two planes into Manhattan’s Twin Towers, a third into the Pentagon and sending a fourth on a flight path toward the White House. Brave passengers sent the last plane hurtling into a Pennsylvania field. The attacks killed thousands of Americans on our own soil.

On May 2, 2011, Navy SEAL Team Six killed the mastermind of that attack, Osama bin Laden, in a dangerous counter-terrorism mission into Pakistan. News of bin Laden’s death sent shock waves around the world.

Twenty-five courageous Navy Seals shrugged off fear and took off in black helicopters in the middle of the night to get bin Laden. Our military’s dedication to justice and the standards of decency no doubt astounded jihadists across the globe that spring day.

Now we confront another horror – ISIS – a vicious, radical, inhumane offshoot of Islamic terrorism, capable of unspeakable brutality.

No terrorist – no matter their country of origin, or their inhumane acts – should forget May 2, 2011. Our military will bring them to justice just as it did Osama bin Laden on that day three years ago. There is a price to pay for attacking Americans and it will inevitably be exacted from those who strike us here or abroad. Our military does not hesitate to right wrongs perpetrated against us and to protect us from those trying to crush our democracy. We salute our military. And we salute those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

We will never forget the more than 400 New York City police officers and firefighters who gave their lives trying to save thousands of innocent victims in the Twin Towers, those who died in the attack on The Pentagon and the brave passengers who took down the last of the hijacked jets to prevent a suicide attack on the white House.

We will always remember the 25 brave Navy Seals who piled into a helicopter 10 years after 9/11 on a dangerous counter terrorism mission to bring Osama bin Laden to justice. And we will always be grateful.